"The camaraderie was fantastic. Everyone was so friendly. It helped a lot, but Iwas still nervous."

Just to qualify for this event is an exceptional feat.

*

Check out what Theresa Pearson accomplished over the weekend of May 11 and 12 at Severna Park Lanes.

In the Chesapeake Open Doubles Tournament, Pearson, using a pair of bowling balls sheinherited from her father, Buddy Vermillion (a pretty fair bowler), threw a 692 four-game series that broke the world's record of 681 setby Kathy Boswell on May 5, 1987.

With her partner, Ron Johnson ofAnnapolis, Pearson set a four-game mixed double world record with 1,325.

That eclipsed the previous mixed double record of 1,163 set in October 1974. That 1,325 was

also higher than the 1,301 series that Jeff Pyles and Buddy Creamer threw for the four-game record for men's doubles in the same tournament.

"I felt as if I had a mission," said Pearson, an administrative assistant for the state and a native of Harwood.

"I felt that way because there were some women thatsaid I wouldn't have a chance bowling the top male bowlers in the country. But when I was young, my mother, Nan, was my coach and she taught me not to quit."

Jeff Pyles, maybe the best duckpin bowler in the nation, certainly one of the best and owner of a couple of duckpin records that might never be broken, urged Pearson to bowl in the event.

"Before the tournament, Jeff said he hoped that I would do great, just to silence some people," Pearson said. "I feel that I did pretty good. I think that I proved that a woman can compete against men in a scratch tournament."

Johnson, Pearson's partner in the record-breaking event, carries a 144 average and has a high game of 235 and a high set of 561. He's a partner in the O'Neill Painting company.

"I just rode along with Theresa. She was bowling just great and I just tried to stay with her," he said.

Donald G. Vitek's Bowlingcolumn appears every Thursday in the Anne Arundel County Sun. Bowlers are urged to give Don a call with scores and tidbits at 247-0850.